[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S11734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. JOHN R. GANTZ

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I recognize Dr. John R. Gantz for 
his 43 years of distinguished service to the United States of America. 
Dr. Gantz has provided faithful service to his Nation as a soldier, 
educator and as chief of the Troops to Teachers Program. A native of 
Pennsylvania, Dr. Gantz earned a Bachelor of Science degree from East 
Stroudsberg University, a Master's Degree in Adult Education from 
George Washington University, and a Doctor of Education degree from the 
University of Southern California.
  After serving in the infantry with the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, he 
taught mathematics and science for the Job Corps in New Jersey. He then 
began his civil service career as an education adviser in Virginia, 
followed by two similar assignments in Korea. During this time, he has 
served as an education specialist, Headquarters Department of the Army; 
Director of Education, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, 
Italy; Deputy Director of Education, U.S. Army Forces Command, Atlanta 
Georgia; and Deputy Director of the Defense Activity for Non-
Traditional Education Support, DANTES.
  In 1984, Dr. Gantz was selected as the DANTES European adviser. In 
this position, he provided guidance and training to education 
professionals supporting military personnel throughout the United 
States-European military commands. He has served on numerous advisory 
boards and been selected to participate in many national conferences as 
an expert in education programming. This year he was inducted into the 
International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in Dallas, 
TX.
  Since 1994, Dr. Gantz has been the first and only chief of the 
federally authorized Troops to Teachers Program. Under his dynamic and 
innovative leadership, over 9,000 servicemembers from the Army, Air 
Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy have made the transition from 
military careers to become K-12 public education classroom teachers and 
school administrators. His superb dedication to develop a unique 
program that recruits special education, mathematics and science 
teachers for high-needs, low-income schools has provided countless 
students the benefit of learning with ``real world'' mentors and role 
models. His dedication to academic excellence, complete selflessness 
and visionary professionalism has brought great credit not only upon 
himself, but also upon the Troops to Teachers Program and public 
education everywhere.
  I know my colleagues in the Senate join me in congratulating Dr. 
Gantz for his dedicated service to our country. He has made a 
significant difference in both the U.S. Army and as chief of the Troops 
to Teachers Program. Once again, I thank Dr. Gantz for his many years 
of devoted service. 

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